In His words, “to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines,” Allah singles out these two kinds of fruit because they are the finest and most beneficial. They provide staple food and nourishment, medicine and drink, fruit, and both sweet and sour flavors. They are eaten fresh and dried, and their benefits are very numerous.

There is disagreement over which of the two is more beneficial and superior. Some favor dates, while others favor grapes. Each group has presented arguments for its view, which we have discussed elsewhere.

The decisive answer is that this varies from one land to another. Allah, exalted is He, has established the natural order such that where one predominates, the other does not.

In land where date palms predominate, grapes are neither particularly good nor plentiful. Grapevines grow and flourish in loose, soft, temperate soil that is not rich. Date palms, however, grow and flourish in hot, saline soil, which does not suit grapevines. Thus, in their own soil and habitat, date palms are more beneficial and superior to grapevines; and in their own soil and habitat, grapevines are superior to date palms. Allah knows best.

The point is that these two are the finest and noblest kinds of fruit. A garden containing them is therefore among the finest gardens. Moreover, rivers flow beneath this garden, making it more complete and increasing its worth. Nor does it lack any desirable kind of fruit: it contains every kind, although palm trees and grapevines are its principal plants and the main purpose for which it is cultivated. There is therefore no contradiction between its being a garden of palm trees and grapevines and its containing “all kinds of fruit.”

A parallel is found in His words, exalted is He, in 18:32, 33:

“Present to them the example of two men: We gave one of them two gardens of grapevines, surrounded them with palm trees, and placed crops between them. Each garden yielded its produce without falling short in any way, and We caused a river to flow between them. And he had fruit.”